Way guard for machine tools



Sept 2, 1958 R. G. BEGLE 2,850,332

WAY GUARD FOR MACHINE TooLs Filed Sept. 20, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 BY M MMM,

Sept 2, 1958 R. G. BEGLE 2,850,332

WAY GUARD FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed Sept. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

United. tite WAY GUARD FR MACE-HNE TOLS Robert G. Bogie, Birmingham, Mich.

Application September 20, 1956, Serial No. 611,052

1 Claim. (Cl. 30S-3.5)

This invention relates to way covers or way guards for machine tools.

It has long been recognized that machine Ways and way mechanisms of machine tools, particularly those of boring mills, planers, large grinders, are vulnerable to clogging and damage from an accumulation of chips, grit or other foreign matter thereon. Way covers or way guards made of neoprene, canvas or flexible metal strips have been provided. But the use of such way covers has been found to have many attendant disadvantages. For example, way covers made of canvas or neoprene materials have a relatively short wear life, being particularly subject to being torn or to be burned through by hot chips falling on the surface. Flexible metal strips are easily dented when tools are dropped thereon, and, on larger machines particularly, are frequently damaged by persons attempting to step thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a way cover adapted to be manufactured of extruded metal sections, the material preferably used being aluminum. More particularly, the way cover comprises inter-locking panels or strips adapted to be automatically compactly rolled up at either or both ends of the machine. The inter-locked panels or strips are reinforced so as to be sufciently rigid to permit the machine operator to walk on the cover surface while the machine is idle or operating. This important feature facilitates machine servicing and job setup thereby providing a safer and more productive operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will appear in the following description and independent claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specication wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a machine tool showing the application of the way cover embodying the present invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a fragmentary portion of the way cover. A

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevatipn of Fig. 2f

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially through line 4 4 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially through line 5 5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

As shown in Fig. l, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown mounted on the base or bed structure of a large boring mill. The boring mill 1G comprises a bed 11 upon which is formed spaced horizontal ways (not shown) extending longitudinally of the bed.

The ways slidably support and guide a carriage or slide 12 which carries the column 13 on which the tool head (not shown) is adjustably mounted. The carriage or slide 12 of the illustrated machine also carries a platform 14 on which the machine operator may stand to operate the machine and to make necessary adjustments.

The ways and way mechanism of the illustrated machine l@ are not visible since they are covered by the way cover or way guard, generally designated 15, embodying the present invention. It will be readily apparent that if a way guard or way cover were not provided, the ways and Way mechanism would receive a deposit of chips, grit and foreign material as the cutting tool does its work. Then, as the carriage 12 traverses the machine bed 11, the relatively soft ways are in danger of being scored as the chips and the like are caught between the carriage and way surfaces. Further, the way mechanism is subject to clogging or damage from the deposits thereon.

Way covers of canvas or other material such as neoprene have been used but have found to have generally too short a Wear life to be practicable. Hot chips falling on the exposed surface burn o1' melt through the materials. Further, the materials tear readily. It has also been proposed to use exible metal strips. In order for the metal to be rollable at the ends of the machine a relatively thin gage metal has to be used. When tools or other heavy objects are inadvertently dropped thereon, the metal bends or even tears. Further, when used on large machines such as that illustrated in Fig. l, the metal strips provide a deceptive appearance of rigidity inviting the machine operator to step thereon to reach parts of the workpiece supporting fixture or of the machine itself to make adjustments. The result is damage to the way cover and oftentimes injury to the machine operator as the way cover buckles beneath his weight.

The way guard 1S embodying the present invention comprises a series of inter-locked panels or strips 16, which preferably are extruded of aluminum. The panels or strips 16 are of any convenient width, the width referring to the dimension W indicated in Fig. 2. For a machine of the-size of the boring mill l@ a width W of 1%. inches has been found convenient. The length of the strips or panel 16 is of a dimension sufficient to span the width of the machine bed or, the wi th of the machine ways if the width of the ways is less than the width of the machine bed, on which the Way cover is to be used.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be noted that each strip or panel 16 is provided on one edge 17 with an angularly inclined depending rib 1S terminating in a cylindrical appendage 19. Rib 18 and its appendage 19 extend the length of the panel or strip 16. At its opposite edge 2d, each strip or panel is provided with a second rib 21 provided with a groove 22 complementary to the cylindrical appendage 19. The opening 23 of the groove 22 is somewhat wider than the thickness of the rib 18 but is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical appendage 19.

The strips 1S are assembled by sliding the cylindrical appendage 19 on one strip edge into the receiving groove 22 on the edge 2@ of a second strip 1o. The strips are then moved longitudinally relative to one another until the respective end edges 24 are in alignment, as shown in Fig. 3. As seen by looking in the direction Z5 in Fig. 2, the extra width of the groove opening 23 lies below the rib 1S when the adjacent strips 15 present a fiat upper surface. This arrangement permits relative movement of the one strip to the other about the coincidence axes of the cylindrical appendage 19 and cylindrical groove 22, thus permitting the way cover 15 to be rolled. As was stated, the width of the groove opening 23 is smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical appendage 19 adapted to be received therein. Thus, the adjacent strips 16 are interlocked Yagainst being .separated in ya direction normal .to the direction in which they were moved forV assembly.

Each strip 16 is provided Aintermediate its two ribs 18 and A2.1VV with fa dependingrib $2.6 vot vinverted f'l'Y Vshape. T-he'lrib 26 1extending.fonthelfull 1 length 1 of 'the strips 16 provides additional `longitudinal reinforcement `lt will be,l noted that the 4bottom .surface27 'of'.the. head portion of thefrib26 is in -alignment withlthe 'bottom'.surface 28 of the rib. 21, seeFig. 2. .Theseztwosurfaces `aretheones which rest vupon .theLsur-faceof the 'machine bed ways.

The I strips `1-6 are V.held against longitudinal movement relative lto eachilother byfmea'ns of retainingdevices 29 having a substantially .T-shaped appearance. lhelhead 30 of ltheretaining device29 lies along 'the #edge ,'24 fof the: strip 5.16 Landi is of i suiiicie'nt Y length lto c'over 2a jpairf of inter-locking connections Vbetween ribs. As Vshown 15in Fig.f2, two retaining devices are.suhcienttomaintainve s'trips16 -in-inter-locked relationship, thatlis, ltwo 'retaining deviceson each side-of vthe way cover. `As,illustratedin Fig.-3, lthe-leg'portion-f31 is inserted betweenLa-reinfor'cing rib 26 and a -grooveicarryingfrib 21fa'ndlriveted by rivets 32 to -the strip-16.

.Itwill be understoodthat two-Way covers 1S .areV pro-V vided forzeachmachine. One endof eachlway coveralS isls'ecuredjn any `convenient'mannerlto theslide @ricarriage 1172. From the point of 'attachment'ofithewaycovers 'to the carriage or slide-12, `the way covers: extend over rollers 33 mounted on the upperfends 'of brackets 34. After passing over the rollers-33 each waycoverextends downwardly where the end' thereof issecuredi-tospace'd pulley/S35 journalled'on a shaft 35. The'sh'a'tt 36isfnonrotatably journalled in brackets 37 'fastened'tothefend'of the machineas shown inFig. 1. Y

:Referring now to Figs. 4 4and 5 there is illustrated :a preferred 'form-orf -a takeup mechanism, .-generallyldesignated 38, for causingfthe wayicover on Jeaehvsi'de of the carriage 12 to be wound`or takenuphaboutthe "shaft vided with a longitudinally Vextending hook portion T44 adapted 'to be hooked into a slot 45 and a 'collar46 'A' suitable hold down clamp plate 147 held tothe periphery of the collar 46'by'bolts 48 is provided to' maintain the hook portion'44 of the spring end'43 within the retaining slot 45. Thecollar 46 is non-rotatably held on the hub V49of the pulley 35 by means of set-screws 50, as shown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 5, a suitable collar51 is'positioned inwardly of the hub 35 to maintain the same in its'iproper position on the shaftagainst the pull being e'xertedby the spring as it is being wound up. The collarf-'Szshown on the rightl hand side of the pulley 35 is merely Vafsp'acer toprevent Vthe pulley from rubbing against thefside'of bracket 37.

It will be understood that each vspring 39 at "each end i of the machine is wound, or mounted so'that it isfrc'o'ntinually tending to exert a pull on' the way cover to? cause the way'cover to be wound around the respective'pulleys associated therewith. Thus, as the slide moves along the ways one way cover is'being extended against the reidle.

i sistance .of .its associated spring while the slackin the other Way cover is being taken up by the action of the spring. Y

Although the way cover embodying the present invention is intended for use principally on boring mills,

' planers, large grinders and vertical milling machines, it

will be readily apparentthat the .covers are adaptable to many traveling operations where support, protection and safety areldesired. The f cover '.being .made lo'f `interlocked aluminum panels or ystrips of suitably reinforced design are suiciently rigid to'permit the machine operator to walkonithe .covers while ytheir machinefis operating or The manufacturer of the panels or strips by the extruding processmkes the metalrelatively tough and durable so that even if tools or other heavy objects are inadvertently dropped on the surface of the way cover, the surface will not show more than a slight nick or dent insufficient h-to interfere 'with f the l.operation mf :the away cover. By virtue of the inter-locking construction .ofihe strips-which :permit the :strips ytopresenta relatiyelytat smoothupperi surface, .any chips orv other foreign-material Whichimight'droponztothe wayicoverpwill be carriedfto the end fof ftheV machine zandv dropped oi fon to the; floor. Itpwilldneireadilyapparent that evenif thezchipsaare hot whemth'eyfhitthewaycover, .they cannot-burnthe.-sl 1r'f21t eA oithetwaycover..

glzclaim:

A wayqguardgforva fmachine tool embodyinggasbase structnrediaving guide ways thereon and afreciproeable'Y table'slidable :on said ways, said way guard :comprising a'seriesofi'interlocked .strips ofmetal, eachstrip being ofza. length long: enough. to extend ioverthe machine `ways and :zbeingof relatively narrow width,.:each vstrip-having at one edge thereof a longitudinally'dependingrib'carrying TaV :cylindrical appendage `andat lthe opposite edge thereof ia longitudinally `extending rib :having 1a ,i groove therein :complementary to wthe cylindrical .:appendage,

' whereby when la :cylindrical appendageonone stripis4 seated-finta groovexonfa second strip an interloclred..con nectiondslprovidedjsaid inici-.locked lconnectionpermittingthezinterlockedfstrips to provide, away guardrhaving aflattupp'ertsurface when overlying the machine: Ways Whileipreventing the r vstrips from `being disengagedfrm each.'r other in Lardirection longitudinally `of i the-.machine base, said'interlocked connectionpiharving means;r to permit adjacent strips to swing about their axis yoficonnection wherebythe; zguard :may fbev rolled, each strip' v:being :Pro-

vided4 with :a 'reinforcing; rib intermediate zthee edge :ribs- References Cited in'the' leof thisl patent '.UNITED STATES kPATENTS #9262139 'Rush :1une.29,;1909

1,140,236v [Ayres May `181915 1,643,674 n Lavignino Sept. 20,'1927 1,720,2850 Negrini .Iuly 16,11929 72,116,847 Pilcher Mayl'O, 1938 -`Z428j887 "Munro Oct. 14,11947 215515860 '-:Welte et lal. :May-.8, #1951 

